Electric-railway conduit



' UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. DE VOE, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY CONDUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming partpf Letters Patent N 0. 510,634, dated December 12, 1893. Application filed July 20, 1893. Serial No. 481,012. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. DE Von, a citizen of the United States, residingat Shreveport, in the parish of Caddo and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Railway Conduits; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates particularly to that class of conduit and railroad beds used in the construction of underground trolley railways,

and my object is to produce a structure which will combine with strength, the additional qualitles of efficiency, cheapness and simpllcity.

A further object of my vide a conduit which can be easily kept free from moisture, snow and ice and other ele ments detrimental to the operation of the electric current and trolley.

To accomplish these several objects I employ the mechanism more fully described herematter and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 invention is to prorepresentsa transverse section through a road bed and conduit having my improvements; Fig. 2 a top view of the same, the covers and top of the conduit being cut away to disclose the parts beneath; Fig. 3 a perspective detail View of my improved chair; Fig. 4 a detail perspective view of a portion of one of the covers showing the manner of forming the hinge connections thereon.

The ties are made of iron or other suitable metal, and are T-shaped in cross-section. The bottom, portion of each tie is flat and has en largements a at its opposite ends to afford a wider support or bearing for the rails, and these enlargements are provided with upturned lips a upon their opposite sides. vertical web a rises from the center of the bottom portion of the tie and extends longitudinally throughout its length. The middle portion of the web is cut away to receive a metallic conduit which willpresently be described. To strengthen the central portion of the web (1 where it is recessed to receive the metallic conduit, a pair of reinforcing plates a are tightly riveted to the opposite sides of the web. These platesalso alford a wider bearing for supporting the sides of the conduit.

To alford a firm support for the rails I place over the enlargements 0., seats b which are each provided with a pair of sloping legs b having upon their lower ends the tongues b which enter corresponding recesses b in the upturned lips o The chair or seat is further secured to the tie by means of extensions b and lips I) which extend over and are riveted to the top of the vertical web of the tie. Perforations b are made in the top of the seat to receive bolts for fastening down the rail. Thus the rails are securely held, and the vertical web well braced against yielding laterally. Now when the ballast is filled in be- 'tween and upon the rails and the pavement placed upon the ballast, the whole structure will be still more rigid and durable.

The conduit 0 is composed of iron, and is laid in the center of the ties in the place left for its reception. The shape of the conduit incross-section is substantially that of the frustum of an inverted cone, the usual slot being left in the top. It will be observed that the bottom of the conduit is above the bottom of the ties, and the conduit is therefore quite shallow, there being no excavation required beyond that for the reception of the ties. The usual drain pipes d communicate with the bottom of the conduit to carry off any water that may enter.

In order to heat the conduit and drive away ice, snow or moisture, I provide, in the present instance, a gas pipe e, which is laid longitudinally along the bottom of the conduit, and is provided at suitable intervals with gas-jets (2, adapted to be lighted electrically. Overthe pipe is placed a perforated removable cover fwhich radiates the heat from the jets.

On the side of the conduit oppositethe gas pipe, I provide a longitudinal shelf or ledge g, upon which is laid the feed wire g. Above the feed wire and suitably connected therewith, is located the conductor h. This condoctor is thoroughly insulated by being set in a rigid longitudinal seatz'of vulcanite fiber or other insulating material, and the whole is securely held in place by means of the sockets or brackets j, located at proper intervals along the side of the conduit, and under the top thereof where it will be out of the way of droppings and rain. On the other side of the conduit and diametrically opposite the conductor is fastened, in brackets, a track 7; upon which an insulated grooved trolley wheel 7; runs. This juxtaposition of the conductor and track is for the purpose of accommodating a horizontal, three wheeled trolley Z, such as described in my former patent, but which forms no part of the present application, and therefore needs no further description.

The covers m of the conduit are each suitably hinged by means of the ears m which pass astride the top of the tie, and are held thereto by bolts or rivets m By the use of these covers the interior of the conduit is always rendered easily accessible for repairs, cleaning, inspection, &c.

To keep the earth or ballast out of immediate contact with the metallic conduit, I provide longitudinal boards or planks n, suit ably treated to prevent rapid decay. These are set upon edge upon opposite sides of the conduit as seen in Fig. 1.

All those parts of the rail seats, and conduit which come in contact with the earth or other damp matter, are suitably tarred, painted or otherwise provided with a protective covering to prevent rust.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a conduit and road-bed is provided which is exceedingly strong in proportion to its cost, occupies but little space, and is unaffected by water, heat, and cold, and theroughly protects the electrical conductor against short-circuits and loss of current. It is further remarked that each and all of the several parts contribute to effect a strong and durable conduit capable of withstanding the strain and wear incident to trolley and other railroads.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a conduit for electrical railways, the combination with a slotted metallic conduit, of cross-ties composed of substantially T- shaped metallic bars or plates, the vertical web of which is provided with a centrally located recess, which receives and holds the c. conduit, substantially as described.

2. In a conduit for electrical railways, the combination of a slotted metallic conduit, metallic cross-ties composed of T-shaped bars or plates having a central recess containing the conduit, and braced rail seats adapted to rest upon the vertical web of said ties, all arranged and adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with slotted conduit substantially as described, of metallic cross-ties substantially T-shaped in cross-section, and centrally recessed to receive the conduit, and braced rail seats secured to and fitting over the vertical web of each tie, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

t. The hereindescribed electrical conduit tie, which consists of a substantially T-shaped metallic plate having flat horizontal enlargements at its opposite ends, in combination with rail seats secured to the vertical web of the tie, and inclined braces extending downwardly from the top of the web and engaging upturned projections on the enlargements in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

.5. A cross-tie for electrical conduits,which tie consists of a substantially T-shaped metal bar or plate having a central recess to receive a slotted conduit, in combination with reinforcing plates adapted to afford a wider bearing for the conduit and to strengthen the tie, substantially as described.

6. An electrical conduit provided with metallic cross-ties having central recesses located above the base of the tie and aslotted metallic conduit located in the said recesses, substantially as described.

7. In a conduit of the class described, the combination ofa longitudinal gas-pipe located within the conduit, and provided with a series of jets throughout its length, and a perforated cover or screen over the pipe, as and for the purpose set forth. I

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM R. DE VOE.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, I. B. OWENS. 

